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Frequently Asked Microprocessors Interview Questions and Answers

1)What is microprocessor?
It is a program controlled semi conductor device (IC), which fetches, decodes and execute
instructions.
2)What are the basic units of microprocessor?
The basic units or blocks of microprocessor are ALU, an array of registers and control unit.
3)What is a bus?
Bus is a group of conducting lines that carries data, address and controlsignals.
4)Why data bus is bi-directional?
The microprocessor is to fetch (read) the data from memory or input device for processing
and after processing it has to store (write) the data to memory or output devices. Hence the
data bus is bi-directional.
5)Why is Address bus unidirectional ?
The address is an identification number used by the microprocessor to identify or access a
memory location or input/output device. It is an output signal from the processor. Hence the
address bus is unidirectional.
6)Define machine cycle?
Machine cycle is defined as the time required to complete one operation of accessing
memory input/output, or acknowledging an external request. This cycle may consists of three
to six T-states.
7)Define T-state?
T-state is defined as one subdivision of operation performed in one clock period. These
subdivisions are internal states synchronized with the system clock, and each T-state is
precisely equal to one clock period.

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8)What is an instruction cycle?

The sequence of operations that a processor has to carry out while executing the instruction
is called instruction cycle. Each instruction cycle of processor contains a number of machine
cycles.

9) What is fetch and execute cycle?

The instruction cycle is divided in to fetch and execute cycles. The fetch cycle is executed to
fetch the opcode from memory. The execute cycle is executed to decode the instruction and
to perform the work instructed by the instruction.
10) List the flags of 8085?
There are five flags in 8085.They are sign flag, zero flag, auxiliary carry flag, parity flag and
carry flag.
11)What does memory-mapping mean?
The memory mapping is the process of interfacing memories to microprocessor and
allocating addresses to each memory locations.
12)What is opcode fetch cycle?
The opcode fetch cycle is a machine cycle executed to fetch the opcode of an instruction
stored in memory. Each instruction starts with opcode fetch machine cycle.
13) What are the instructions used to control the interrupts?

EI
DI
RIM
SIM

14) What is polling?

In polling, the microprocessors software simply checks each of the I/O devices every so
often. During this check, the microprocessor tests to see if any device needs servicing.
15)What are the different types of interrupts?

Hardware
Software

Hardware interrupts- The interrupts where the CPU pins are used to receive interrupt requests
, are called hardware interrupts.
Software interrupts This interrupt is caused by the execution of the instruction. These are
special instructions supported bythe microprocessor.

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16)What are the types of hardware interrupts?

TRAP
RST 7.5
RST 6.5
RST 5.5
INTR

17)Difference between memory mapped I/o and I/O mapped I/o?

Memory mapped I/O
1. In this device address is 16- bit.

I/O mapped I/O

1. In this device address is 8-bit.

2. MEMR and MEMW control signals

are used to control read and write I/O
operations.

2. IOR and IOW control signals are used

to control read and write I/O operations.

3. Instructions available are

LDA,STA,MOV R,M , ADD M etc

3. Instructions available are IN and OUT.

4. Data transfer is between any register

and I/O device.

4. Data transfer is between accumulator

and I/O device.

5. Decoding 16-bit address may require

more hardware.

5. Decoding 8-bit address will require

less hardware.

18)Describe the function of the following pins in 8085?

a) READY b) ALE c) IO/M d) HOLD e)SID and SOD
READY It is used by the microprocessor to sense whether a peripheral is ready or not for
data transfer. If not, the processor waits. It is thus used to synchronize slower peripherals to
the microprocessor.
ALE In 8085 , ADo to AD7 lines are multiplexed and lower half of address (Ao to A7)
is available only during T1 of the machine cycle. The latching of lower half address from
themultiplexed address lines byusing ALE signal.
IO/M - indicates whether I/O operation or memory operation is being carried out. HOLD
This signal indicates that another master is requesting for the use of address bus, data
bus and control bus.
SID(Serial Input Data) This input signal is used to accept serial data bit by bit from
the external device.

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SOD(Serial Output Data) This is an output signal which enables the transmission of serial
data bit bybit to the external device.
19)Comparison between full address decoding and partial address decoding?
Full Address Decoding
1. All higher address lines are decoded to
select the memory or I/O device.

Partial Address decoding

1. Few higher address lines are decoded
to select the memory or I/O device.

2. More hardware is required to design

decoding logic.

2. Hardware required to design decoding

logic is less and sometimes it can be
eliminated.

3. Higher cost for decoding circuit.

3. Less cost for decoding circuit.

4. No Multiple addresses.

4. It has a advantage of multiple

addresses.

5. Used in large systems

5. Used in small systems

20)What is ALE?
The ALE (Address latch enable) is a signal used to demultiplex the address and data lines
using an external latch. It is used to enable the external latch.

21)Where is the READY signal used?

READY is an input signal to the processor, used by the memory or input/output devices to
get extra time for data transfer or to introduce wait states in the bus cycles.
22)Give some examples of port devices used in 8085 microprocessor based system?
The various port devices used in 8085 are
8212,8155,8156,8255,8355,8755.
23)What is the need for timing diagram?
The timing diagram provides information regarding the status of various signals, when a
machine cycle is executed. The knowledge of timing diagram is essential for system designer
to select matched peripheral devices like memories, latches, ports etc from a microprocessor
system.
24)What operation is performed during first T-state of every machine cycle in 8085?
In 8085, during the first T-state of every machine cycle the low byte address is latched into an
external latch using ALE signal.
25)What is interrupt acknowledge cycle?

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The interrupt acknowledge cycle is a machine cycle executed by 8085 processor to get the
address of the interrupt service routine in order to service the interrupt device.
26)What is vectored and non-vectored interrupt?
When an interrupt is accepted, if the processor control branches to a specific address defined
by the manufacturer then the interrupt is called vectored interrupt. In Non-vectored interrupt
there is no specific address for storing the interrupt service routine. Hence the interrupted
device should give the address of the interrupt service routine.
27)List the software and hardware interrupts of 8085?
Software interrupts : RST 0,RST 1,RST 2,RST 3,RST 4,RST 5,RST 6,RST 7
Hardware interrupts : TRAP,RST 7.5,RST 6.5,RST 5.5, INTR.
28) What is TRAP?
The TRAP is a non-maskable interrupt of 8085. It is not disabled by processor reset or after
recognition of interrupt.
29)How clock signals are generated in 8085 and what is the frequency of the internal clock?
The 8085 has the clock generation circuit on the chip but an external quartz crystal or LC
circuit or RC circuit should be connected at the pins X1 andX2. The maximum internal clock
frequency of 8085 is 3.03MHz.
30)Define stack?
Stack is a sequence of RAM memory locations defined by the programmer.

31) What is program counter? How it is useful in program execution?

The program counter keeps track of program execution. To execute a program the starting
address of the program is loaded in program counter. The PC sends out an address to fetch a
byte of instruction from memory and increments its content automatically.
32) Define opcode and operand?
Opcode(operation code) is the part of an instruction that identifies a specific operation.
Operand is a part of instruction that represents a value on which the instruction acts.
33)How the 8085 processor differentiates a memory access and I/O access?
The memory access and I/O access is differentiated using IO/M signal. The 8085 processor
asserts IO/M low for memory operation and high for I/O operations.
34)When the 8085 processor checks for an interrupt?
In the second T-state of the last machine cycle of every instruction, the 8085 processor
checks whether an interrupt request is made or not.
35)Why interfacing is needed for I/O devices?

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Generally I/O devices are slow devices. Therefore the speed of I/O devices does not match
with the speed of microprocessor. And so an interface is provided between system bus and
I/O devices.
36)What is interrupt I/O?
If the I/O device initiate the data transfer through interrupt then the I/O is called interrupt
driven I/O.
37)What is a port?
The port is a buffered I/O, which is used to hold the data transmitted from the microprocessor
to I/O devices and vice versa.
38)What is the need for interrupt controller?
The interrupt controller is employed to expand the interrupt inputs. It can handle the interrupt
request from various devices and allow one by one to the processor.
39)What is synchronous data transfer scheme?
For synchronous data transfer scheme, the processor does not check the readiness of the
device after a command have been issued for read/write operation. For this scheme the
processor will request the device to get ready and then read/write to the device immediately
after the request.
40)What is asynchronous data transfer scheme?
In asynchronous data transfer scheme, first the processor sends a request to the device for
read/write operation. Then the processor keeps on polling the status of the device. Once the
device is ready, the processor executes a data transfer instruction to complete the process.
41)What are the internal devices of 8255?
The internal devices of 8255 are port-A, port-B, port-C. The ports can be programmed for
either input or output function in different operating modes.
42)What is USART?
The device which can be programmed to perform Synchronous or Asynchronous serial
communication is called USART (Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver
Transmitter). Eg: INTEL 8251
43)What is scanning in keyboard and what is scan time?
The process of sending a zero to each row of a keyboard matrix and reading the columns for
key actuation is called scanning. The scan time is the time taken by the processor to scan all
the rows one by one starting from first row and coming back to the first row again.
44)What is programmable peripheral device?
If the function performed bythe peripheral device can be altered or changed bya program
instruction then the peripheral device is called programmable device. It have control register.

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The device can be programmed by sending control word in the prescribed format to
the control register.
45)What is baud rate?
The baud rate is the rate at which the serial data are transmitted. Baud rate is defined as (The
time for a bit cell). In some systems one bit cell has one data bit, then the baud rate and
bits/sec are same.
46)What are the tasks involved in keyboard interface?
The tasks involved in keyboard interfacing are sensing a key actuation, Debouncing the key
and generating key codes( Decoding the key). These tasks are performed software if the
keyboard is interfaced through ports and they are performed by hardware if the keyboard is
interfaces through 8279.
47)How a keyboard matrix is formed in keyboard interface using 8279?
The return lines, RL0 toRL7 of 8279 are used to form the columns of keyboard matrix. In
decoded scan lines SL0 t0SL3 of 8279 are used to form the rows of keyboard matrix. In
encoded scan mode, the output lines of external decoder are used as rows of keyboard matrix.
48)What is GPIB?
GPIB is the General Purpose interface Bus. It is used to interface the test instruments to the
system controller.
49)Advantages of differential data transfer?

Communication at high data rate in real world environment.

Differential data transmission offers superior performance.
Differential signals can help induced noise signals.

50)What is difference between Microprocessor and Microcontroller ?

Microprocessors generally require external components to
implement program memory, ram memory and Input/output.
Intel's 8086, 8088, and 80386 are examples of microprocessors.
Micro controllers incorporate program memory, ram memory and
input/output resources internal to the chip. Microchip's pic
series and Atmel's AVR series are examples of micro controllers